Where do birds go when they die?

Asked by: C Dawson, by email

It's rare to see a dead bird on the ground, but it is also rare to see a dead mouse or rat - which are generally much more numerous. We don't question this because we don't see rodents much when they are alive - they are secretive and nocturnal.

It's only because living birds are so conspicuous that it seems strange not to see them when dead. Birds don't usually drop dead in mid-flight - they die in their nest or are caught and eaten, much like other small animals.

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